Sectional wall structure or partition



March 3, 1931. n. BRA'EFEFE 1,795,270

SECTIONAL mm swnucrruaa 0R PARTITION Filed March 22, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR March 3, 1931. D. BRATTER SECTIQNAL WALL STRUCTURE OR PARTITION Filed March 22. 1929 5 Sheets-$heet 2 wrmsss=gm AT YORNEY March 3, 1931. D. BRATTER SECTIONAL WALL STRUCTURE OR PARTITION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 22. 1929 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE DAVID BRATTER, OF BRONX, NEW YORK SECTIONAL WALL STRUCTURE R PARTITION Application filed March 22, 1929. Serial No. 349,147.

This invention relates to improvements in sectional wall structures or partitions.

The primary object of the invention resides in a metallic partition which may be erected without the aid of fastening elements and which provides a knock-down structure suitable for oflice partitions and the like when the wall may only be erected temporarily. 1 Another object of the invention is the provision of a metallic wall structure which consists of a plurality of interfitting wall units held in an upright position by channel bars into which they are received, and by molding strips which fit over the tops of the units to overlap and conceal the joints therebetween to impart a finished and ornamental appearance to the structure.

A further object is to provide a partition unit in which the panel and vertical side rails are constructed of a single blank of flat metal bent in a novel manner and to which the top and bottom rails are fixedly secured without the use of fastening elements.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a. portion of a wall partition constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View on the.

line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the partition units with the top rail separated therefrom. 1

Figure 5 is a top plan view of one of the wall units.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the corner units.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral 10 designates a partition unit, and 11 a corner partition unit 0 which is of substantially the same construc- 14 therebetween. The side rail 12 consti- 6O tutes a channel 15 which opens at the outer side to receive the enclosed side'rail 13 of the next adjacent unit when the units are in an assembled set-up position. The channel 15 is formed by bending the material outwardly at right angleto the face of the panel 14 as at 16 thence at right angle parallel to the panel as at 17 and doubled upon itself, and brought back to the bend 16 to provide a wall 18 to lie thereagainst which projects beyond the plane of the opposite side of the panel, from Where it is bent as at 19 to lie parallel with the bend 17 with the free end bent in upon itself.

The other rail 13 is hollow and substantial- 1y square in cross section and is formed by bending the material first outwardly beyond one side of thepanel 14 as at 21, thence at right angle parallel to the panel as at 21, then backward as at 22 beyond the plane of the other side of the panel, then at right angle thereto and parallel to the bend 21 as at 28, and thence inward to overlap the bend 20 as at'24.

Applied to the top and bottom edges of the panel 14, are top and bottom cross rails 25 and 26 respectively, both of which are identical in construction and which are connected to the panel in a like manner. Each cross rail is substantially square in cross section and of a length to snugly fit between the inner walls of the side rail 12 to the outer wall of the side rail 18. Each cross rail is oent from a single piece of metal with the longitudinal edges terminating in spaced re 90 lation throughout to provide a slot 27 to accommodate the edge of the panel 14 to permit the rail to abut the opposite side of the rail as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. One end of the cross rail has a transverse slot 28 therein for accommodating the tongue 29 which is co-extensive with the bend 18 of the side rail 12 and which tongue is bent over after passing through the slot as best shown in Figure 5.

The bonds 20 and 24 of the side rail 13 are cut-away at the top and bottom as at 30 to allow the respective cross rails to extend to the extreme side wall while the bends 21, 22 and 23 have tongues or tabs 31 co-extensive therewith which are bent over the cross rail to secure thatparticular end in position.

The above description refers to the specific construction of one of the wall units 10 but the corner units 11 are of a similar construction with the exception that the open side of the channel side rail 12 opens at right angle to the channel 15 of the unit 10 to allow one of the side rails 13 to fit therein at right angle to the corner unit 11. The units 11 are only used when connecting a wall structure where the units meet at right angle to each other.

The partition or wall units are supported t in channel bars 32 of-U-shape in cross section and which are fixedly secured to the floor by screws or like fastening elements 33. The vertical flanges of the channel bars are spaced so as to snugly embrace the base of the units and support them in an upright position when the side rail 13 of one unit is inserted into the channel 15 of the next adjacent unit, or in the side rail 12 of one of the corner units. The legs are resilient to tightly engage the units and seal any space therebetween.

For the purpose of bridging and concealing the top joints between the units, I apply metal moulding strips 34 thereto and which include a fiat horizontal top 35 to rest upon the top of the units, and resilient depending flanges 36 for tight engagement with the top sides of the units. These moulding strips in addition to the above purposes, also brace I the tops of the units to hold them in set position.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I am able to construct a partition or wall in a rapid and inexpensive manner, and one which is strong and durable and has the appearance of a paneled wall. The same may be taken down when desired and again erected so that no material is destroyed in the use of my wall structure.

While I have described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many of the details may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is A partition unit comprising in combinationa sheet metal panel having a vertically disposed channel at one side edge thereof and an opposite vertically disposed hollow rail, said hollow rail adapted to fit in another unit having a channel like that of the first unit, the front and rear wall portions of said second channel adapted to lie flush with the front and-rear walls of said first channel, a hollow sheet metal rail having a slot in the bottom wall thereof for receiving the top edge of the web of said panel between the vertical channel and rail portions, and a second hollow sheet metal rail having a slot in its top wall for receiving the bottom edge of the web of said panel also between the vertical channel and rail portions, the front and rear walls of both of said hollow slotted rails adapted to lie flush with said first mentioned front and rear walls.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

DAVID BRATTER. 

